Who is the most desirable free agent in the NBA this season? – Mike

This answer may surprise you: It’s Rasheed Wallace.

He’s a headcase, sure, but when you get him when he’s motivated, Sheed can be a huge difference-maker. Just ask Detroit.

Sheed has such a diverse skill set, and if he signs with a team like the Spurs, they’ll get him to play hard, at least for this season. He will be one of the few free agents who is worth what he signs for.

And with that out of the way, let’s look at the three players that won’t nearly live up to the contracts they sign.

Ben Gordon (Rumored contract: $11 million annually for multiple years).

BR,

Sorry for the long absence, I used to go on RTJ all the time on my blackberry, and then you changed formats which made for poor viewing on my blackberry.

At any rate, have you seen the ad's you have running? I like the one for the Envoy Game with the Rapunzel-like woman with the milky white breasts. Have you played? If so, let's hear the full BR review. - Walter Sobchak

Welcome back, old friend. I completely understand your predicament. RTJ is not quite entertaining enough to visit at home on the computer, but a great time waster while at work or doodling on your phone. I'd be in the same boat if I didn't run the joint.

Isn't it weird how some guys are the same age, but one seems so much older because he's been tossed around the league a lot? I bring this up because I couldn't believe Drew Gooden was only 27 years old. I thought he was 35. - Ethan

Drew Gooden is really 27? Yikes. You're right. I would have pegged him for early 30's as well.

Here are some players who surprised me.

Age 23
Must be older: Josh Smith, F, Atlanta Hawks. I knew he wasn't an old man, but I didn't think he was still one of the youngest players on Atlanta.

How does the West stack up now that Yao could miss the whole year? – Dustin

It’s the end of June, and multiple players will switch teams before training camp starts, so doing power rankings this early is foolish.

Just kidding. I’m in.

1.    Los Angeles Lakers – Even if Odom leaves, Kobe, Pau and Bynum make them the favorites.

All right! My main man 'Common Sense' drops by with the first RTJ comment in months, and now I can resume the Comment of the Week feature.

I'm pumped.

What's more, he actually clowned me pretty good, using perfect grammar, clever digs and spot-on analysis. What a true American hero.

Common Sense on my attempt at analyzing soccer without watching it: "Let me give you some analysis on the sport, although I haven't watched a match in about three years." This suggests that you shouldn't be making that analysis. "Obviously, beating France was a freak occurrence." You mean Spain? Kinda proves my point, right? This post is an epic fail.  If you don't want to pay attention to soccer and hockey, fine, but to then post about it just makes you look ignorant.

OK, I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the T-Wolves to announce the trade they've decided to go with. You know, since nobody in their right mind would draft two point guards with back-to-back lottery picks.

I gave them the benefit of the doubt and figured there would be a plan, since Kevin McHale no longer had a say with this franchise. Maybe Ricky Rubio for David Lee, or Flynn for a future No. 1.

Something. Anything. And now, I'm just so very confused.

It's been well established that you don't watch hockey. Did you tune in for the U.S. soccer game against Brazil? - DJ

Shhh. I'm trying to lay low on the I-hate-hockey business. I do actually enjoy soccer, but I regret to inform you that I did not tune in to watch the match. Call me when the World Cup is on.

With that being said, let me give you some analysis on the sport, although I haven't watched a match in about three years: The United States is not as good as this tournament seemed to suggest.

Thoughts on the proposed Amare trade to Golden State? - Ron Zonie

Here was the proposal for those living under a rock: Amare for Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Marco Bellinelli and Stephen Curry.

If that was truly the deal, then yes, the Suns would do good by taking it.

Do you like Atlanta’s addition of Jamal Crawford? – Roger S.

Umm, no. How does this phone call go, exactly?

Larry Riley: ‘Hi, this message is for Atlanta general manager Rick Sund. Hi Rick, this is Larry Riley of the Golden State Warriors. I realize you have Joe Johnson at shooting guard already, but how would you like Jamal Crawford to steal his shots and add an egregious contract to your payroll? All I’m asking for is some cap relief in Speedy Claxton and a young player with potential and a rookie contract in Acie Law. Let me know what you think.’

At the beginning of the season, I gave my predictions for the upcoming baseball season. Nearly halfway through the year, let's see how I'm doing:

American League
Cy Young: Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox
What I said then: The talent has always been there, but Beckett always seems to get injured. His ERA last year wasn't great, but he had an insane strikeout-to-walk ratio. With so much depth in the rotation, Beckett will be the star of stars. Predicted stat line: 22-6 with a 3.14 ERA.
Beckett so far: 8-3 with a 3.74 ERA.
Analysis: The flame-throwing right-hander had a shaky start to the season, but has been nails in the past month or so. I like where we're headed with this one. The ERA probably won't get that low, and he will have to really pick it up to win that many games, but Beckett should definitely be in the Cy Young conversation.
If I could do it over: Zack Greinke. He's been insane, but who would have guessed that?